Modular merchandising system

ABSTRACT

A modular merchandising system for a retail environment includes a cabinet assembly supporting equipment and selectively configured to store within an interior cavity components coupled to the equipment to provide goods and/or services. The cabinet assembly includes a first side panel, a second side panel, a front panel, a rear panel, a floor panel and a top panel configured to form the interior cavity. The front panel is coupled to one of the first and the second side panel by one or more hinges to permit access to the interior cavity. One or more shelves are selectively positioned at one or more heights to support the components, for example, a printer, a scanner and like input and/or output device, within the interior cavity.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/881,380, filed on Sep. 23, 2013, the contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material,which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the United States Patent andTrademark Office files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to systems for providing servicesrelated to merchandise in, for example, a retail environment and, moreparticularly, to a modular merchandising system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many types of merchandise are marketed by placing the merchandise in aposition that is clearly visible to prospective purchasers. Conventionalmerchandise display units provide an array of vertically spaced,horizontally extending display bins, trays, shelves and the like thatare both aesthetically pleasing and provide prospective purchasersconvenient access to merchandise. Typically, merchandise display unitscombine numerous standardized hardware and accessories such as, forexample, slat wall and peg board panels, dividers, posts and similarstructures for receiving product support hardware such as brackets,hangers, shelf supports, and the like for supporting bins, trays,shelving and other specialized merchandise display units. Conventionaldisplay systems of this general type include a series of verticalsupport members or posts connected to panels or walls.

In most retail environments, display systems focus on supplyingprospective purchasers with products or services. Such supply-typedisplay units are configured to allow the bulk storage, organization anddisplay of merchandise. Additionally, the space that is available in aretail environment for merchandise display must be utilized effectivelyin order to maximize the revenue generated from merchandise displayedwithin a certain retail floor space. Therefore, conventional supply-typedisplay systems are often customized to fit available floor space and/orto display certain merchandise. Moreover, customization is an on-goingeffort. As such, it is desirable that merchandise display systems aremodular and reconfigurable in the field without specialized tools andwithout undo effort by technicians and/or retail store personnel.

For example, user-friendly and interactive shopping environments areoften employed to attract prospective purchasers of certain electronicproducts such as computers, traditional and digital photographicequipment, such as traditional and digital cameras, camcorders and thelike. Interactive shopping environments include environments whereproducts offered for sale are integrated with supporting services andcomponents for delivering such services such as, for example, printers,scanners and other input/output devices and the like. The inventor ofthe present invention has realized that a preferred shopping environmentfor such merchandise would have displays providing stations for the useand/or demonstration of products and services offered, featuretechnological innovations and direct purchasers to complementary productofferings. Such interactive and collaborative retail environments notonly capture the attention of prospective purchasers but also encouragerepeat visits to a store.

The inventor of the present invention has realized that the primary roleof conventional supply-type display units cannot be altered to achievethe preferred collaborative retail environments and/or laterreconfigured to achieve different environments without time consumingand costly modification and, more often, by replacement of an existingstructure with another customized, fixed structure. As such,conventional display systems are not seen to offer flexibility inproviding configurations that adapt to use in various retail locations,positioning and quantities of components and systems providing servicesto prospective purchasers, or replacement of components and systems whenit is desired to offer new technological innovations to customers.

Accordingly, the inventor has discovered that a need exists for amodular merchandising system that can be changed to implement acollaborative retail environment now and in the future.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a modular merchandising system fora retail environment. The modular merchandising system includes acabinet assembly providing a surface for supporting equipment andselectively configured to store within an interior cavity one or morecomponents operatively coupled to the equipment to provide goods and/orservices complimentary to an inventory of merchandise displayed inproximity to the modular merchandising system. The cabinet assemblyincludes a first side panel, a second side panel, a front panel, a rearpanel, a floor panel and a top panel configured to form the interiorcavity. The front panel is coupled to one of the first side panel andthe second side panel by one or more hinges such that the front panelmay be selectively opened to permit access to the interior cavity. Oneor more shelves are coupled to interior portions of the first side paneland the second side panel, and extend horizontally therebetween. Theshelves to support the components, for example, a printer, scanner andlike input and/or output device, positioned thereon. The one or moreshelves are selectively positioned at one or more heights within theinterior cavity. A support bracket is coupled to sides of each shelf.The support bracket includes two or more fingers disposed along a lengththereof that each extend outwardly from the support bracket to engageone of a plurality of slots arranged at various heights in the interiorportions of the first side panel and the second side panel,respectively. In one embodiment, a plurality of threaded holes isdisposed in proximity to the plurality of slots. The plurality ofthreaded holes may each receive a fastener that acts to secure thefingers of the support bracket within the slots. In one embodiment, thefastener includes a head that permits tightening and loosing of thefastener without the need for a specialized tool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present invention will be betterunderstood when the Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodimentsgiven below is considered in conjunction with the figures provided,wherein:

FIG. 1A illustrates a modular merchandising system configured, inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 1B illustrates another modular merchandising system configured, inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the merchandising system of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of an interior portion of themerchandising system of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of an interior portion of themerchandising system of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the interior portion of themerchandising system of FIG. 1B having a slide assembly shown in anextended position;

FIG. 6 is a detail view of the slide assembly of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a detail view of a support bracket and a shelf installedwithin the interior portion of the merchandising system of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 8 is a detail view of a fan assembly installed within the interiorportion of the merchandising system of FIG. 1B; and

FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of a drawer extending from the interiorportion of the merchandising system of FIG. 1A.

In these figures like structures are assigned like reference numerals,but may not be referenced in the description of all figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It should be appreciated that while described and illustrated as amodular merchandising system for displaying and offering servicesrelated to an inventory of electronic merchandise such as, for example,traditional film and digital photographic products and equipment, e.g.,multi-media flash memory cards for digital photography, single usecameras and the like, the scope of the present invention may be variedby those skilled in the art and used as a merchandising system fordisplaying merchandise and for providing services complimentary to suchmerchandise in other retail environments.

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2 and 3 illustrate embodiments of a modular merchandisingsystem 10 of the present invention. The modular merchandising system 10includes a cabinet assembly, shown generally at 20, providing a surface22 for supporting equipment 80 such as, for example, a computer, andselectively configured to store within an interior cavity 36 one or morecomponents 90 such as, for example, printers, scanners and like inputand/or output devices, operatively coupled to the equipment 80 toprovide goods and/or services complementary to the inventory ofmerchandise displayed in proximity to the modular merchandising system10. The cabinet assembly 20 includes a first side panel 24, a secondside panel 26, a front panel 28, a rear panel 30, a floor panel 32 and atop panel 34 configured to form the interior cavity 36. In oneembodiment, an exterior portion of the top panel 34 provides the surface22.

In one embodiment, the front panel 28 is coupled to one of the firstside panel 24 and the second side panel 26 by one or more hinges 40(e.g., two hinges 40 shown in FIG. 1A, while only one hinge 40 is shownin FIG. 1B) such that the front panel 28 may be selectively opened topermit access to the interior cavity 36. In one embodiment, shown inFIG. 3, one or more shelves 42 are coupled to interior portions 24A and26A, respectively, of the first side panel 24 and the second side panel26, and extend horizontally therebetween. In one embodiment, the shelves42 are formed of relatively heavy duty metal, plastic, or the like, tosupport the weight of the components 90, for example, a printer, scannerand like input and/or output device, positioned thereon.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the one or more shelves 42 are selectivelypositioned at one or more heights within the interior cavity 36. Forexample, a support bracket 50 is coupled to sides of each shelf 42. Thesupport bracket 50 includes two or more fingers 52 disposed along alength thereof that each extend outwardly from the support bracket 50 toengage one of a plurality of slots 24B and 26B arranged at variousheights in the interior portions 24A and 26A of the first side panel 24and the second side panel 26, respectively. In one embodiment, aplurality of threaded holes 24C and 26C are disposed in proximity to theplurality of slots 24B and 26B. The plurality of threaded holes 24C and26C receive a fastener 60 that acts to secure the fingers 52 of thesupport bracket 50 within the slot 24B and 26B. In one embodiment, thefastener 60 includes a head 62 that permits tightening and loosing ofthe fastener 60 without the need for a specialized tool. As should beappreciated, the fingers 52 and slots 24B and 26B combine to provide afirst level for securing the support bracket 50 and shelf 42 duringadjustment, and the fastener 60 and holes 24C and 26C provide a secondlevel for securing the support bracket 50 and shelf 42. This dual levelof fastening is seen to assist personnel doing adjustments in the fieldby providing a relatively quick first adjustment and fastening methodwhile also providing a safer, more secure second fastening method.

In one embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 7, the support bracket 50may be coupled to a slide assembly 70 such that the shelf 42 may beselectively extended horizontally forward and away from the interiorcavity 36 of the cabinet assembly 20 (FIGS. 5 and 6). In this manner,the components 90 that are supported by the shelf 42 may be more readilyaccessible by, for example, personnel of a retail establishment or otherpersonnel servicing or maintaining the components 90. Once access in nolonger needed, the slide assembly 70 may be engaged to reposition theshelf 42 back within the interior cavity 36 (FIGS. 4 and 7). In oneembodiment, a support tray 44 is coupled to a surface of the shelf 42.The support tray 44 may be adapted to receive a specific configurationof the component 90 disposed thereon. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5and 7, the support tray 44 includes one or more protrusions 46 extendingupwardly from the shelf 42 such that a component disposed thereon issupported above the surface of the shelf 42 to, for example, accommodatefeatures of the component and/or to provide clearance for air flow underthe component, or the like. In one embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 8, afan 100 provides an air flow within the interior cavity 36 to coolelectronic components disposed therein.

Referring again to FIGS. 1B, 4 and 5, in one embodiment, an interiorsurface 28A of the front panel 28 includes an output receiving chute 28Band an exterior surface 28C of the front panel 28 includes an outputcollecting chute 28D. The output receiving chute 28B receives outputsuch as, for example, paper from a printer disposed in the interiorcavity 36, and directs the output through an aperture 28E in the frontpanel 28 to the output collecting chute 28D where it is accessible to aprospective purchaser.

In one embodiment, the cabinet assembly 20 includes one or more drawers38 (one drawer shown). The drawers 38 may include one or more of thecomponents 90. As shown in FIG. 9, the drawer 38 may be coupled to oneof the slide assemblies 70 such that the drawer 38 may be selectivelyextended horizontally forward and away from the cabinet assembly 20. Inthis manner, the components 90 that are supported by the drawer 38 maybe more readily accessible by personnel of the retail establishment orother personnel servicing or maintaining the components 90. Once accessin no longer needed, the slide assembly 70 may be engaged to repositionthe drawer 38 back within the cabinet assembly 20. In one embodiment,the support tray 44 may be coupled to a surface of the drawer 38 suchthat the drawer 38 may be adapted to receive a specific configuration ofthe component 90 disposed thereon.

In accordance with the present invention, the plurality of components 90of the merchandising system 10 are operable by, for example, prospectivepurchasers, to input data, preview, select, edit and output the data as,for example, a photographic image of the data (e.g., duplicate prints),or downloading the inputted and/or edited image data. For example, thecomponents 90 within the interior cavity 36 and/or the drawer 38 mayinclude a printer for outputting data, a scanner for scanning apreviously processed photograph and/or document. As can be appreciated,the equipment 80 and the components 90 within the interior cavity 36and/or the drawer 38 are operatively coupled and provide electronic dataso that a prospective consumer may input, preview and edit theelectronic data, for example, by enlarging or cropping unwanted portionsof an image, enhancing or diminishing color, contrast or the like,adding, changing and deleting text or borders, graphics or otherwisetailoring the image or content of a document, within the retailenvironment. In one embodiment, the components 90 include output devicessuch as, for example, the printer and/or high-speed printer, and a diskdrive (e.g., optical or digital storage devices such as CD ROM burner,zip or floppy drives) so that consumers may purchase the inputted and/oredited image data in the form of print photograph or image datadownloaded onto storage media (e.g., a CD ROM or diskette).

A perceived advantage of the merchandising system, as described herein,is its ability to adapted to a variety of retail environments byaccommodating a desired configuration of components and providingservices complementary to the inventory of merchandise displayed inproximity thereto. It should be appreciated that a desired configurationof components is achieved with the inventive merchandising system bothwhen the merchandising system is first deployed in the retailenvironment and when a retailer wishes to change a current configurationto employ an expanded and/or reduced footprint and/or wishes to add,change or remove certain components to adapt the merchandising system toa latest trend in the retail space.

Although described in the context of preferred embodiments, it should berealized that a number of modifications to these teachings may occur toone skilled in the art. Accordingly, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that changes in form and details may be made thereinwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A modular merchandising system disposed in aretail environment, the modular merchandising system comprising: acabinet assembly having a first side panel, a second side panel, a frontpanel, a rear panel, a floor panel, and a top panel configured to forman interior cavity; the front panel is coupled to one of the first sidepanel and the second side panel by one or more hinges such that thefront panel is selectively opened to permit access to the interiorcavity; the first side panel and the second side panel each having aplurality of slots arranged at various heights in interior portions ofthe first side panel and the second side panel, and a plurality ofthreaded holes, each hole disposed in proximity to one of the pluralityof slots; at least two support brackets, each bracket having two or morefingers disposed along a length of each of the extend outwardly from thesupport bracket; at least one shelf having a first and a second side,the first side of the shelf coupled to a first of the at least twosupport brackets and the second side of the shelf coupled to a second ofthe at least two support brackets, wherein the two or more fingers ofthe at least two support brackets are selectively securable to theplurality of slots at one or more heights within the interior cavity;and a plurality of fasteners, each fastener being received by one of thethreaded holes to secure the fingers of the support bracket within theslots.